I don”t know who all, to send this to but realize it is a story that needs telling. As I contemplate the Occupy Lake County flier and read the interesting explanations and enticements to join or understand. I am reminded that there was a time when it required no explanation.
Let me explain. There is a long history of occupation — Hoovervilles all over the country and in Washington D.C., occupations were frequent events following egregious acts of empire, from the Depressions of 1894 and 1932, to the Civil Rights Movement.
The occupation of the Capitol Mall by WWI veterans may have been the most notable ? it did not end well. They were eventually routed, however lessons were learned and following WWII an enlightened administration put our veterans to work and learning. A new class of university student was created, the working-class. They propelled America into the technological cutting edge.
So why does occupation seem so new now? Why is it reviled and illegal? Well in the case of Washington D.C., it became illegal, in the ?80s, ending a 100 year tradition of redressing grievance, as prescribed in our Constitution. You were no doubt preoccupied then.
But not everyone: Charles Hayder, a nuclear physicist occupied in front of the White House and mounted his 218-day anti-nuclear hunger strike in the 1980s to bring attention to the dangers of nuclear proliferation. He died in 2004, his widow felt his health had been compromised by multiple fastings. Then President, Ronnie Reagan, made quiet concessions in the nuclear disarmament treaty to urge him to end his hunger strike. Can you even imagine President Obama doing that?
Many occupied in front of the White House then or across the street in Lafayette Park. Among them and most notable today is Concepcion Picciotto, a tiny, 67-year-old Spanish immigrant who has occupied across the street from the White House since Aug. 1, 1981. Yes, almost 32 years! She was inspired by, and joined activist William Thomas who died in 2009. He was shot by Capitol police and according to Concepcion (Conny) suffered other damages of mistreatment that eventually led to an early death, she still mourns. They, too, protested nuclear proliferation of all kinds.
Now she occupies alone. Why is she alone? Because the tradition of D.C. occupation was made illegal, but those who occupied at the time were grandfathered in, as long as they never abandon their encampment. She has carried on the longest continuous act of political protest in United States history. Some dismiss her as crazy, to which she replies: “They think we can survive nuclear war and they call me crazy?”
Of course, her little plastic and stick tent cannot meet all her needs, so she trades off with others, when possible, to get a shower, go to the bathroom etc. She has one semi-regular visitor that relieves her for an hour or so, but she is not that reliable.
Our occupation signed up folks to relieve her an hour a day. When I learned no one was signing up, I began meeting her daily to give her a break. She would return at 8 to 9 p.m. and we would discuss things she”d just learned on the Internet.
Nights when I sat there alone in the cold with the White House filling my gaze for hours was surreal. One night Libyans came and danced and sang when Kaddafi had been killed, their young children came and talked with me, they were as American as I, bright, intelligent and completely not phased by the monumental events their parents celebrated. Another night, young men came and showed me their blue, painted finger. They were Tunisians, coming from their Embassy to celebrate their first democratic vote for a free Tunisia. Their protests, sparked by an act of self-sacrifice which, in turn was sparked by U.S. Embassy Documents released by Bradley Manley to WikiLeaks. Though every intelligence department has stated the release posed no threat to their agents or operations, Bradley sits in jail indefinitely fighting for his life after more than 180 days of solitary confinement without representation. His actions liberated Tunisia but now some would redefine the word terrorist over and over until it even includes Bradley and WikiLeak founder, Julian Assange. It will soon include occupiers, too. When I left the occupation I gave my Peacekeeper Sweatshirt to a young peacekeeper named Knoxville and I auctioned off my Occupy D.C. T-shirt. Knoxville was the highest bidder, promising to relieve Concepcion for the next seven days.
Imagine 32 years in occupation. Imagine if we were 1 percent as dedicated to justice and positive change. Just imagine. Love and peace.
Tim Williams
Clearlake
